Abstract
Perhaps one of the most obvious yet misunderstood emotions associated with daily living is the expression of anger. Anger is manifested in many contexts and is presented in individuals of all ages. The inappropriate expression of anger, however, can result in a myriad of consequences, including divorce, job loss or program of service, violence toward self and/or others, and substance abuse. Overcoming Destructive Anger: Strategies That Work, written by Dr. Bernard Golden, integrates three components, which consists of mindfulness and mindfulness meditation, self-compassion, and self-awareness for anger management treatment.
The use of mindfulness-based practices in counseling has grown to be increasingly prevalent in the United States. Originating from Eastern Buddhist practices, mindfulness-based practices have been used in treating a broad range of medical and psychological conditions. These treatments also have shown empirical support and have grown into being one of the more emerging treatments within the field of counseling. Also showing empirical support is compassion-focused therapy, developed by Paul Gilbert, which is utilized to assist individuals in dealing with shame and self-criticism while assisting them in their ability to self-soothe.
Overcoming Destructive Anger: Strategies That Work offers a solid contribution to anger management treatment, as it presents a multitheoretical yet compatible perspective to reducing destructive anger and behavior. The text is presented in three sections. The first section provides an explanation of and concepts associated with understanding the natural anger process from biological, physiological, developmental, and behavioral perspectives. The first section also provides an introduction to mindfulness, self-compassion, and application of these concepts.
The second section offers more of an illustrative view of implementing mindfulness and self-compassion for anger management. To promote the development of compassion, the author utilizes an introspective assessment of an individual’s use of compassion in daily living, guided imagery, and other related exercises. With regard to mindfulness, the author explains how its use can assist individuals with understanding and identifying physiological warning signs that are associated with various emotions including anger. Examples of techniques that could be used to promote physiological awareness included conducting “body check-ins,” deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation. Additional components of this section consist of a detailed framework for promoting self-awareness and coping within the anger process, an introduction and guidelines associated with the implementation of the anger log, and techniques for practicing mindfulness and self-compassion in understanding thoughts and emotions associated with anger.
The third and final section refocuses the concepts of mindfulness and compassion and directs them toward how the concepts can be used to assist in the healing of relationships. The author emphasizes the consideration of the mutual human condition shared with others along with techniques relative to addressing and cultivating compassion for self and others. Addressing internal dialogue that inhibits and promotes compassion along with techniques such as assertive communication are identified.
All of the three sections of the text outline specific strategies to assist those with implementation, expanding insight, and developing skills relative to overcoming destructive anger. The author explains the relationship between all components, illustrating the fluidity of the concept. Although the text is considered to be written for those of all ages, it is in this author’s opinion that the content would more than likely benefit those individuals who are of higher levels of intelligence and/or maturity, in order to grasp many of the concepts discussed. These individuals would also require the desire and motivation needed to address concerns related to anger control. Therefore, when considering the text for young children or those with low IQ, they may find understanding the various concepts difficult, due to the adult perspectives referenced in the language and examples throughout the book. However, the delivery of the material may be localized to be an effective anger management tool to assist the adolescent population and older individuals.